
Ben Townsend
Republican | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ben Townsend
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 101
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Indiana University, Bloomington, 1972-1974
Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Graduate, 1974-1976
Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Masters work, 1981-1981
Faith Bible College, Louisville, Bachelor of Theology, 1982-1984
WORK & MILITARY
Mill Road Christian School, Teacher, 1976-1978
Gethsemane Baptist Schools, Teacher/Principal, 1979-1981
Faith Bible College, Academic Dean, 1982-1984
Indianapolis Baptist High, Teacher, 1985-1991
Bible Believers Historic Baptist Church, Pastor/Counselor, 1992-2016
Wexford Joint Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, 2017-2026
Norman Township, Zoning Administrator, 2017-2026
Wexford County, Commissioner, 2019-2024
AFFILIATIONS
Bible Believers Historic Baptist Church, Pastor, 1992-2016
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Wexford County Commissioner, 2019-2024
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Wexford County Commissioner, 2019-2022
Wexford County Commissioner, 2021-2022
Wexford County Commissioner, 2023-2024
State Representative, 2026-2026
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Right to Life of Michigan PLM-PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Trent Taylor
Michael Keith Hoover
Madeline Adams
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
The life of the mother is at risk.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
This should be up to the state to decide.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Strong Accountability and oversight over government programs Allow FOIA for both Executive and Legislative branches Have better state budgets with no pork.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It means the state should be separated from the church, per John Adams' quote.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
I choose C
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Good relationships with friendly nations are always a benefit to both nations. And countries are blessed by blessing the Jews.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
Reagan promised to do so, but failed. But still, local control is better for schools, parents, and children.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a dedicated, Bible Believing and teaching Christian of the historic Baptist faith.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
The most reliable are Natural Gas and Oil. After that, Nuclear.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
NO
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
NO
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Justice for the Victims, and penalties for the criminal.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Choose not to answer
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The restrictions we have now are adequate.
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